Best Forensic Science Schools Near Wilson, NC (2026)

Wilson, North Carolina has 10 accredited schools offering forensic science programs, with tuition ranging from $2,040 to $8,900 per year for indexed programs. Wilson has a population of about 47,740. Median household income is $47,294 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In North Carolina, the top-earning forensic science-related role is Detective and Criminal Investigator at a median $63,280 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Forensic Science Schools to Wilson

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer forensic science programs near Wilson, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Wilson city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Wilson. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Nash Community College

Rocky Mount, NC 17.0 miles from Wilson BOC Score 52.0
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 28%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $34,912
Avg net price $3,338/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 38

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Wayne Community College

Goldsboro, NC 22.8 miles from Wilson BOC Score 53.6
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 40%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $34,148
Avg net price $2,245/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 42

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Johnston Community College

Smithfield, NC 27.8 miles from Wilson BOC Score 64.4
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 32%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $37,310
Avg net price $1,776/yr
Tuition
In‑state$2,756
Out‑of‑state$8,900
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 44

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Wake Technical Community College

Raleigh, NC 43.9 miles from Wilson BOC Score 55.3
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 32%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,769
Avg net price $8,759/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 71

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Central Carolina Community College

Sanford, NC 70.6 miles from Wilson BOC Score 60.6
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 42%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $33,525
Avg net price $5,446/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 71

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, NC 70.8 miles from Wilson BOC Score 49.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,144
Avg net price $7,892/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 25

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Fayetteville, NC 72.5 miles from Wilson BOC Score 45.5
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 28%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $31,861
Avg net price $3,589/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 75

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Coastal Carolina Community College

Jacksonville, NC 73.0 miles from Wilson BOC Score 47.9
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 33%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $36,444
Avg net price $9,461/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 44

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all North Carolina schools on the North Carolina forensic science page.


Forensic Science Wages Near Wilson

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (North Carolina, statewide)
Forensic Science Technician$59,240
Detective and Criminal Investigator$63,280
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer$59,300

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Wilson at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population47,740Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$47,294Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+22.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Wilson-Area Cities With Forensic Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited forensic science schools are near Wilson, NC?

Our directory has 10 accredited schools offering forensic science programs near Wilson. The closest is Nash Community College in Rocky Mount, NC (17.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Sandhills Community College (90.3 miles). 10 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying forensic science roles in North Carolina?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying forensic science-related roles in North Carolina are: Detective and Criminal Investigator ($63,280), Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officer ($59,300), Forensic Science Technician ($59,240). Wages for Wilson workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Rocky Mount instead of Wilson?

Rocky Mount, NC is 17.7 miles from Wilson and has its own set of local forensic science programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Wilson an affordable place to study forensic science?

Wilson’s median household income of $47,294 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Wilson while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Carolina public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Forensic Science Programs

Other Programs Available in Wilson

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Wilson:

Data verified: August 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.